2011-Initial proclamation of Christ (=IP) in Oceania
Port Moresby, PNG, 110821-110825
Minutes / insights
What is the initial proclamation?
In the survey ‘IP’ was understood generally as ‘evangelization’ (eg: IP is superficial), although there are many adult baptism in DB works.
Depends on our quality of life (witness), friendly approach.
IP is called to be a community event in the clannish culture
What does the IP mean in ‘very Christian’ Samoan or Melanesian society?
How much is needed a true Initial Proclamation of Christ in Melanesian and Polynesian countries?
IP is non denominational (cfr. Alpha course), is directed on the person of Jesus Christ
When is the IP over? When the option for Jesus Christ is done! (catechumenate…)
Working definition: 110922, AM session – consensus after presentation:
Initial proclamation is the witness and explicit, contextualized presentation of Christ and his Good News to individuals and community which stirs up their interest, INVITING the listeners to a personal and communitarian encounter, conversion and a fundamental choice for Christ in community
(1 Cor 12,27; Eph 5,23)
IP is what makes the Church truly missionary, puts Her into the state of mission.
Terminology related to the initial proclamation
(cfr. RM 44;Verbum Domini 97; Lineamenta of New evangelization Synod 2012,19; CT20, EiO, 20: fearless proclamation mirrors Australian privacy and secularization background; GDC 59-61)
Fruitful use of the 2010, February edition of ‘Catechism for Catholics of PNG and SI’ To have life in All it’s fullness, ed. CBC, introduction 2007
Stories of initial proclamation are best material to reflect upon (concrete, incarnate, deep)
Goroka: SDA background student asking for a baptism FMA sister, very personal decision (enormous difficulty). What was the turning point? Due to a guide of quality presence in our setting (PSDB – wasting time with the youth), struck by this boarding assistance, joy of fellow catholic students, sharing with her. Now is already teaching in Mt. Wilhelm place secondary school, as a spiritual moderator on the campus! (Government school).
SDB sharing after 7 years of PNG. I never met the ‘pagan’ in this country. I will not talk much about the first proclamation.
Church hierarchy or clergy as the obstacle of initial proclamation, or not-promoting
God in the Scriptures repeats many times ‘Go!’ or ‘Set out and Go!’ or ‘Go up and join that chariot!’ - when sending the proclaimers to ‘preach the good news’ (Act 8,4).
The Spirit works in all: the proclaimers, the listeners, the cultures or religions of each place, he facilitates the encounter with Jesus. We are called to recognize the work of the Spirit in this all. (RMi, chapter 3)
What is the Gospel (for me)? It’s a good news, it’s Jesus himself that transforms our lives, it does affect also the way of initial proclamation, our life witness and word of proclamation.
‘I want to be in paradise, heaven with the rest of my family!’ It’s one of the deepest motivations for people from traditional cultures in Asia/Oceania (Indonesia, PNG, Macau). If they hear, that is a separate paradise for the Muslims, pagans, Christians – they prefer their family ties and ask to be ‘Christian or Catholic’.
HOW TO PROCLAIM CHRIST in the Pacific (Melanesia-Polynesia)? (open questions)
What is the link between IP and Conversion?
Secularization influence on the traditional Melanesian cultures? (It’s right to speak in these terms, should we call it better ‘materialism, consumerism, impact of modern media or technology’?
1: Why faith didn’t change the culture after a long time (Highlands of PNG evangelized for some 75 years, no more than 200 years of evangelization).
2: Sometimes we feel much discouraged in our ministry, when we see only few fruits (conversions, baptisms…). It’s about the culture-faith relation
Community based cultural values are not easy to be understood
Also local bishops fear to speak out against (sorcery, government corruption), OFM was ordered to be killed by former PM due to his ‘outspoken’ bishop courage
Get rid of the perception, that ‘Good News was the white man belief’ (survey)
Indispensible - key elements:
TIME and PATIENCE for proclamation, assimilation and transformation of the Gospel in the life of the people
YOUTH needs an experience of God; we are called to make them ‘taste’ the Gospel, in order to realize with their own ‘senses and feelings’ (service, prayer, friendship) through (BEC) group experience, recollections, service offered.
HOW TO PROCLAIM CHRIST in Australia / New Zealand? (open questions)
In Australia life is too easy, we like to be all the same, nobody dares to stand for his faith out of peer pressure or pressure of our egalitarian society. So religion becomes a ‘private’ issue. Is not ‘politically correct’ to speak about it in public: STAND OUT…
God-less society, talk about Kin-dom (not Kingdom) as Reign of God
After the WYD 2008 there are many signs of changed in the behavior of youth, more open to Jesus Gospel, deep yearning for spirituality, BUT never? back to the organized Church. Also against ‘our’ expectations the Relics of Don Bosco attracted thousands of young people to us (with Ipods,…) but praying.
HOW TO TRAIN THE PROCLAIMERS? (Formation of our youth, Lay, Salesians)
Urgent need to form local agents of IP, since the majority of ‘catholic professional IP agents’ (priests, religious) are still expatriate missionaries
Regarding our candidates to consecrated life in Melanesia, we need to see personal option for Christ, not taken in for granted
Ecumenical sensitivity is a must in our multi-denominational families of Melanesia (often times in one family there are members of 3-4 different Churches)
WHAT KIND OF PARADIGM SHIFT IS NEEDED (path to go, way to walk)?
From a ‘generic’ evangelization to the ‘initial proclamation’ awareness in our mission
We are called to learn the ‘reflection process’ of the Study Days in order to make it happen in our provinces and communities.
ABSENCE OF… (What do we not talk about?)
METHOD of REFLECTION
Personal level of insight before starting the topic (2 points write, share with 1)
Confront after the key talk, in the group sharing
Confront after the full day
DIALOGUE with CULTURES (talk of Fr. Franco Zocca, reaction Fr. Peter Baquero)
Young people are attracted by ‘fun’ (consumerist, materialistic, media influence)
The process of secularization? is rapid (LNG project/liquid natural gas) and exercises a huge influence on the youth (values confusion)
In few decades happen a rapid shift from stone age to the digital age.
CAN CULTURES command, influence the Gospel & Church? (in the past the CIC didn’t contemplate the ‘human rights’ or ‘child abuse’ under 18!). My approach of a sociologist ‘fulfillment model’ Gospel bring to completion (fulfillment) the cultures what God has already sown in the people’s culture a religions, while at the same time purifying (Mt 5,17: not came to abolish but to complete the Law.
P.21: European missionaries as part of the Western influence, have often unwittingly been agents of secularization in their efforts to proclaim the Gospel.
A: Whiteman (Anglican, Kentucky ) says as many anthropologist, magical mindset. Let’s get the magic and we will get all the gods’. So many people want to be baptized without conversion of life. It’s true that Christianity brought secularization, YES. We have many student who traw away everything (local). WHY know the accusation of sorcery are things of the past? Now we took away the fears of the ancestors spirit, now they still should find ‘WHO’ and they point on the people. It’s right. They don’t’ know what to accept now!
DIALOGUE with RELIGIONS
70% of our people (Sidea) practice traditional customs and religious practices even while they call themselves Christian;
The belief in sorcery remains unchanged in all levels of society; even some local leaders are going back to their ‘traditional’ believes (Christmas Day – market call!)
DIALOGUE in the POVERTY context: new frontiers
The attitude of ‘you are welcome as long as you are useful’ are opposed to a religious experience; the cargo cult is deeply rooted
SET OF MATERIALS COLLECTED DURING THE PROCESS OF STUDY DAYS
Sharing of the concrete experience of initial proclamation, analysis, conditions
Introduction SDB (five points to consider), FMA, FAQ, Goals of Study Days
Convocation letter and Conclusion letter to the Provincials
Conclusion FMA, SDB (homily and main insights)
Daily wrap up / Emerging Insights (day 1-2-3-4: IP, cultures, religions, scheme)
Lectio divina (Acts 8, John 1-2, John 3-4, Luke 1, Mk 6) by Maria Ko, text read
Liturgy (Evangelization of peoples, St. Versiglia & Caravario: ppt
Key talks and reply, questions in the assembly (Fr. Zocco, Fr. Capra, Fr. Dillit)
Website (Google engine search, 110821: Initial Proclamation of Christ, 28.000 items)
http://cgi.www.salesians.org.uk/cgi-bin/www.salesians.org.uk/newsitem.pl?item=item195 (Eur 2010)
http://donboscoindia.com/english/bis/default_ms.php?proid=4.0&newsid=5291 (SA 2011)
http://www.svdcuria.org/public/mission/docs/encycl/rm-en.htm (SVD RMi)
Salesians of Don Bosco – group sharing for the conclusion (August 25,2011)
Initial proclamation of Christ (PNG-SI Delegation)
We need to growth – to move:
From doing mission only within our (educative) institutions to reach out to the young where they are (Oratory).
From ignoring traditional cultures to committing ourselves to understand and learn the local cultures and religions (patient listening, respect and taking them from where they are, trusting the listener)
From a lack of contact with the family of our listeners, to more participation, linkage with the families.
From doing the mission entirely by ourselves as missionaries ad gentes, to giving formation and engaging Lay Mission Partners as co-responsible in initial proclamation, especially in their families through living the preventive system of Don Bosco as Gospel life witness
From formal venues to share the faith experience, to promoting vital venues for the sharing of initial proclamation experiences (Basic Ecclesial Communities, Youth Groups)
majka.lackova@gmail.com (SLK)
